Scrubbing machine



f Dec. 16, 1924. 1,519,617

J. HERR SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed Deo..13, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS 5E j @www Deg, l l

' 1,519,617 J. HERR S CRUBBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, v1923 2 sheets-sneu 2 ,-F/lgl E, $1 .96

Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

intatti OFFICE,

JOHN HERR, .OF PHLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SCR'UBEING- MACHINE.

Application filed. December 13, 1923.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that 1, JOHN Haan, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and Statev of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Scrubbing Machines', of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates broadly to machines for scrubbing floors and the like, but more particularly to machines comprising means for supplying soap and water to the surface to be scrubbed in proximity to the scrubbing brush or brushes, as the case may be.

The general object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated of simple construction which is elficient in operation and which may be manufactured economically.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the movement of the machine over the surface to be washed effects distribution of the soap upon the said sur-r readily understood, reference may be had tol the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one convenient form. of embodiment of the same. However, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction than that shown and that changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the said invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a scrubbing machine embodying my invention; y

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the said machine, portions thereof being broken away in order that other portionsmay be more clearly disclosed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the 'machine taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4.- is a view showing a fragmentary portion of the structure for the purpose of illustrating more kclearly certain details of construction Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of a fragmenseriai No. 630,291.

tary portion of the struct-ure looking toward the-right in Fig.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the structure showing more clearly certain details of the construction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame portion or casing of a scrubbing machine upon the under side of which casing brushes 2 are rotatably mounted. The said brushes are rotated by means of gears, not shown, which are `interposed between the shaft of the electric motor 3 and the said brushes. The said motor is mounted upon the upper side of the supporting frame structure or casing 1 of the machine.

In view of the fact that the means for and the manner in which the brushes 2 are supported and operated does not constitute any part of the invention as disclosed in this application, it is deemed unnecessary to describe the same in detail; but reference may be had to my co-pending application filed December 13th, 1923, Serial Number 680,290,

` for a full disclosure and description of the same.

The motor 3 is provided with brackets 4 and 5 to which the frame 6 is adjustably secured by the bolts 7, the said frame having vertical slots therein to permit vertical adjustment thereof. rlhe said frame is of hollow rectangular or square shape and supports a tank 10 which is adapted to hold water jor a mixture of water and soap or other suitable detergent. The water or mixture of a detergent and water is adapted to be discharged from the said tank through a pipe 11 controlled by avalve at 12. The said valve is provided with a crank arm 13 to which is connected a link 14C which in turn is connected to the lower end of swinging arm 15-pivoted at 17 to the lower portion of the frame 6. The said arm 15 is provided with a curved slot 20 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. The lower ends of the link 14 and the arm 15 are connected to the forward end of a link'25, the rear end of which is connected to the forward end of a treadle lever 26 provided with a rearwardly extending projection or extension 27 adapted to be actuated by the foot. The valve at 12 is shown in closed position. By depressingl the rearwardly extending projection or extension by placing vthe foot thereon or otherwise,` rotation *of the valve n 12 isefected to open the same.. Rearward movement of the treadlelever 26 is adapted to be limited by contact of the forwardend thereof with an adjustable lcontact device 30` mounted upon the rear portion of the frame 6.

Simultaneously with Vthe actuation of the kvalve at 12 vto permit water to flow from the 'tank 10 vthrough the pipe 11, means isalso actuated for permitting the discharge` and distribution of soap or 4other detergentin powdered forni onto the surface which isvbeing washed at points adjacent the point fof Ldischarge of the water from the pipe 11.

The soap is contained within la receptacle 30' which is supported in the lower'part of the frame 6 underneaththe water tank 10'. The

y.front and rear walls of the said receptacle are inclined downwardly toward 'each other, as shown in Figs. 1 andG of the drawings, and their lower edges are connected to' tlieopposite edges ofia fiat bottom portion 31 which is provided with soap discharge holes 32'which are arranged at-intervals longitudinally thereof. A valve member 33,- consisting of an elongated flat bar is supported slidably underneath the bottom 31 by means of yangular brackets 34. The said valve member 33 is also provided withholes 35 at intervals therein which are ladapted vto be placed or moved intoand out of 'registry with the holes 32 in thefbottom 31 of the receptacle 30.

Oneend of tended and` widenedvras shown atl 40. The

f said widened end portion is provided with a slot 41'which is inclined with respectl tothe longitudinal axis of thejsaid valve member Infother words,` the slot 41 is varranged inI a, plane forming acute angles with the longitudinal axis of the said valve member."

' v. y F or the purpose of sliding the valve member Y to the treadle llever 26. by meansof a vthumb 33 in one direction or the other, a link 45 is provided, the rear` end of which is connected screw 46.` AThe point of connection of the rear end of the link 45y to the treadle .lever 26 maybe adjusted'from the lposition shown to other positions, as for instance,'toy a positionat 47 'so'as to vary the throw ormovement of the said link 45 to thereby vary the extent of movement in one direction or rthe other imparted to `the valve 33.'- `Movement y of the said valve, bvreasonf of the movement of the link 45, is effected by the engagement of aidownwardly extending Vprojection 50 at the forward endof the said-link with ythe'v slot 41 previously-referred to. The said proj ection 50y also extends through and engages a slot (SVO-formed'in the outer edge portion of a projection or boss y61 uponl the frame 6.

The outer portion of the slot60is closedby. a plate 62y heldl in place by screw bolts 63..

The, slot 60 is arranged substantially at vrighi;

coiled vspring rod kare coiled about drums 30 the valve member 33v'isex`-v anglesto the axis of' the 'valve member '33.

means of which the said frame is supported upon the said axle. The wheels 71 are se-k cured rigidly to the said axle so that as the eov apparatus is movedback and,` forth on the floor the wheels are caused to vrotate and cause rotation of the shaft 70.

For the` purpose of agitating tliejsoap which is inpowderedV form within the container 30, I have mounted upon the shaftwv within the said container a coiled spring'rod' v75; Theopposite end portions of the said which` are rigidly secured tothe shaft 70 withinthe container 30 adjacent the `opposite sides thereof. The lcoi'ling of theopposite end portions of the ysaid 'spring'75 about the drums maintains thesaid spring in .cylindricalformJ `The opposite ends of thesaid spi'ing-aresecuredto the drums SOby. meansof screw boltsv 81. Rotation" of the axle 70causesrotation of the drums180 and vof the spring '75.; 'llhey convolutions ofthey coils aresituated in close relation tothe bottom 31of the.` container or receptacle 30 andl as the coilv is rotated, the powdered soap or v other detergent within 'thesaid container is agitated'and is gradually moved longitudi# nally of the bottom acrossV the openings and is thereby caused to! bedischarged through the vsaid openings.

When the soap and the ywater are being y l discharged ontothesurface. to be washed, it

.isykdesirable that the' brush or brushes 2`r should occupy a position intermediate the person who isoperating the machine and the points ofdischarge ofthe soap and water;

ATo this end the handle 90,1.which is 'of'yoke ,shape and the opposite sides of which "are:

pivotally connected'. at 17 to the opposite sid'esof the frame 6,'. is adapted to be turned from the position shown in full lines in Pig;

1 of the drawings into a position extendingtoward the front-of the machine,- as indicated in dotted lines at 92.. "At such time .a thumb screwbolt 93 provided in anf'extension of o'ne'of the; sides of thehanjdle en-v gages the right hand yend `of the slot 20 inthe arm 15so as to swing the said arm toward effect opening of Vthe valve at 12 andV also operate the links 25 and 45 to move 'the/valve' v` the right (having reference-V` to Fig. 1)y and 33 into position to cause registry u*of the openings 35 therein with the openings 32 in the bottom 3l of the receptacle or container 30. The soap and water having been discharged ontol the surface to be washed is distributed by the brush or brushes 2 evenly over the said surface in front of the person who may be operating the machine. It will be understood that at such time the operator pushes the machine rearwardly.

After the water and soap have been thus mixed and distributed over the 'surface to be washed the handle may be returned from the dotted line position at 92 to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 so that the operator may position himself at the rear of the machine and push the same forward with the brush or brushes 2 in the lead or at the front of the machine. When the handle 90 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, the thumb screw bolt 93may be removed if desired; but preferably should be allowed to remain in place at all times as a matter of convenience.

A conductor 95 is provided for conveying electric current to the motor. The flow of the current is controlled by a switch 96.

t will be seen that by myinvention I have provided a machine of simple construction comprising means whereby the soap and water may be discharged onto a surface to be washed and scrubbed and thereafter distributed over such surface by brushes which may be located or positioned intermediate the person operating the machine and the points of discharge of the soap and water upon the said surface. It will also be seen lthat I have provided simple and eflicient means for insuring that the proper amount of soap desired shall be discharged from the container or receptacle holding the same; and it will also be apparent that if desired the link 45 may be disconnected from the valve bar 33 so that the lattermay reniainv closed when the valve at l2 is open. This may be the case when a mixture of a .detergent and water is employed inthe tank 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a scrubbing machine comprising scrubbing brushes and means for actuating the same, the combination of a frame, a water tank supported on said frame, a soap holding receptacle also supported on the said frame, means for controlling the flow of water from said tank, means for controlling the discharge of soap from said receptacle, and means common tothe last two named means for actuating the same to regulate a-nd control the discharge of water and soap onto the surface to be washed.

2. In a scrubbing machine comprising` a scrubbing brush and meansV for operating the same, the combination of a water tank, a receptacle for holding soap, .means for supporting said tank and receptacle, means vfor controlling the discharge of water onto va surface to be washed, means for controlling the discharge of soap onto said surface, an actuating member, and means having connection with said member and with the last two mentioned means whereby the latter are adapted to be actuated upon the actuation of the said actuating member.

8. In a scrubbing machine, the combination of a water holding tank, `a detergent holding receptacle having discharge openings in its bottom, means for supporting the said tank and receptacle, which means comprises a shaft which extends through the said receptacle, avalve member forcontrolling the openings through the bottom of said receptacle, a. valve for controlling the discharge openings arranged at intervals in` the bottom thereof, a discharge passageway leading from the said water holding receptacle, a valve for controlling the water discharge passageway, a. valve member for controlling the openings fro-m the said soap receptacle, a valve actuating member and a link connection between the said member'and the valve for controlling the water passageway anda link connection between the said member and the valve member for controlling the soap discharge passageway, the said links operating simultaneously upon the actuation of the saidy actuating member for opening or closing the said valve members.

5. In a scrubbing machinecomprising scrubbing brushes and means for actuating the same, the combination of a. water holding receptacle having a water discharge passageway leading therefrom, a detergent holding receptacle having discharge openings in the bottom thereof arranged at intervals, a valve for controlling the discharge of water from the said tank through the said passageway, an elongated valve mem ber located upon the bottom of the said detergent receptacle, means for opening and closing the first named valve and means for simultaneously effecting longitudinal movescrubbing brushesv and means for actuating the same, the combination of a water holdl ing tank having a v'discharge passageway leading therefrom, a detergent holding re- 5,ceptacle-situatedunderneath the said tank,

lthe saidy receptacle being provided` with openings' arranged at intervals in its under side, an. elongated member extending into the said receptacle and ylocated in contact` with the under side of the same over the said openings, atreadle lever and iiidepeiidentl connectionsbetween the said lever and tliesaid valves whereby the said valves may v be simultaneously actuated;- K 1-5'- 7. In ascrubbing mach'ne comprising a scrubbing brush and means for operating the same, the combinationof a water holding tank havingv a passageway 'for `the within the Ysaid receptacla'the 'spirals'of whichv are .situated adjacent the said barz 40 cal member when the said machine is moved discharge of ywater therefrom, a detergent holding receptacle underneath the `said water tank, the said receptacle having a series ofdischarge openings arranged at,

intervalsthrough its under sides, vaValve for controlling the. discharge of water throughv the said passageway, a bar 'extending into the said receptacle which bar is provided with a seriesoflopenings arranged at intervals'and which islocated in 'contactf with y the under side ofy saidreceptacle over the openings through the under side of the'latter, means for effecting simultaneousactuation of the vsaid valve' and the y said bar for controlling the discharge-of waterithrough the said passagewayand for controlling the vdischarge of the detergent through the'v lopenings in the under side vof the said receptacle, a helical-member located and means-causing rotation of the said helioverthe 'surface being scrubbed. Y 8.In a'zscrubbingmachine comprising a scrubbing brush and means for operating throughr the said passageway,'a bar extend-y ing into the said receptacle which bar is 1 provided-witha series of openings arranged at intervals and which is located incontact with the under side'of said receptacle over theopenings through the under side ofthe llatter,-means for effecting simultaneous actiiation of the said valveand the said bar for controlling lthe y discharge of water through the said passageway and for. controlling -the discharge of v the detergent through the openings in thefunde'r side of j the Vsaid .receptacle a helical member 1olcated within' the said receptacle,5'the'spiralsk of which are situated adjacenty the said bar,

means for supporting the said helical'meme ber and maintaining it in cylindrical form, and means for causing rotation of the said.

support and the ysaid Vhelical member for agitating the-detergent within the said receptacle' when the said machine is moved Vover lthe surface which is being scrubbed. l

9. In a scrubbing machine comprising scrubbing brushes and means for operating the saine, thecombination of a water.y tank having a water discharge. passageway-leading therefrom', a .detergent 'holding ,receptacle having openings arranged vat intervals in its bottom, a valve for controlling the discharge of water through the said conduit, a valve bar extending'into the said receptacle and beingl situated in contact with the bottom thereof over the said opensir ings, which bar-is provided with a series of yopenings arranged at intervals which are adapted'to be moved intol'and out of registry with the openings in the bottom ofv said receptacle, means for 4simultaneously .actuating the said valve and said valve bar to lmove the same intd vopen vor closed positions, and means whereby the rsaid valve v f bar may be disconnected from' the last mentioned means to permit the said bar to remain in closedy position,y substantially las described. v

U10. In a scrubbing machine comprisingscrubbing brushes and means for .operating the same, the combination ofva water holding ltank having a discharge passageway leading therefrom, '1a detergentholdin'g re- Vceptacle having ,aseries of openingsv arrangedat lintervals in the bottom,y thereof, a valve for controlling thepassageway fromV the said tank, a reciprocab-le'bar extending into said receptacle'which bar islocated in Contact with the said bottom overthefsaid openings therein and which is provided with a series of openings which are adapted to be movedv into and out of registry with ,the i openings in the said bottom, meansfor 'operating the :said valve and the said bar for,

controlling the saidrjpassageway and K4the first named openings, and means for controlling ,thel extent ofkmovement of the said' bar,'substantially asfdescribed.l v i 11. In a 'scrubbing machine ycomprising scrubbing brushes and means for actuating the same, the combination of a water holding tank having ay discharge passagewayV leading therefrom, a detergent holding receptacle situated underneath the said tank, L

the,l said receptacle being provided with openingsarranged at intervals in `its under side, anv elongated valve member extending into the said. receptacle and located in contact withthe underside ofthe-same over the said openings, Vmeansffor ,actuatingl the 'first .named valve 'to open and close. the

same, means for causing longitudinal movements in one direction or the other of the said elongated valve member to effect opening and closing of the openings in the under side of the said receptacle, the said means comprising :t treadle lever and independent connections between the said lever and the said valve and valve member whereby they may be simultaneously actuated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of December7 A. D., 1923.

JOHN HERR. 

